The Hindu : National : Multi-role Transport Aircraft venture not affected: HAL

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 31, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Multi-role Transport Aircraft venture not affected: HAL

Ravi Sharma

Withdrawal of Russian firm will not result in project falling through

HAL team to sign $8.5 million deal in Moscow in April
“Change is part of the reorganisation of the Russian aviation industry”

BANGALORE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said that the withdrawal of the Russian company Irkutsk Aviation and Industrial Association, one of the partners in the $600 million, joint Indo-Russian Multi-role Transport Aircraft (MTA) venture, will not result in the project falling through.

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, HAL’s Director, Corporate Planning and Marketing, M. Fakruddin while confirming that Irkutsk will no longer be the nodal agency from the Russian side, stressed that the venture “was very much on” and that a team from HAL would be in Moscow in April to sign a $8.5 million deal for starting work on the designing of the aircraft.

New prime nodal agency

He added that Rosoboronexport, Russia’s sole State owned liaison agency for the export and import of defence related and dual use products, technologies and services had now identified the Ilyushin Aviation Complex as the new prime nodal agency.

Mr. Fakruddin said the withdrawal would not affect the venture since the Russian company would still be contributing to the project and supporting it by collaborating with the new nodal agency, albeit from outside.

They will of course not be part financing the project.

“This change is part of the reorganisation of the Russian aviation industry and the formation of the United Aircraft Corporation (in 2006), which is a Russian government owned corporation. Irkutsk is being assigned new roles.”

Under a deal signed in 2002, India and Russia had agreed to a 50-50 joint venture, with a Russian consortium consisting of Irkutsk, the Ilyushin Aviation Complex and Rosoboronexport contributing $300 million in development costs and HAL contributing a like amount.

Meant to replace the ageing Antonov (An)-12, An-26/ 32 turboprop transport aircraft that first entered service in the 1970s, the MTA is capable of performing regular transport duties as well as deployment of paratroopers.

While the Indian Air Force plans to acquire 45 of these aircraft, the Russians are committed to acquiring around 100 within the next 12 years.

The MTA is expected to fly in 2013 and be inducted by 2015.

On the aspect of Russia’s financial contribution towards the project Mr. Fakruddin said that it was up to Rosoboronexport to provide the requisite money.

He said the understanding entered into between HAL and the Russian companies on aspects of work share stood unaltered.

While HAL is to design the front fuselage and wings, and contribute in the development of the avionics, the Russian side will work on the rear and centre fuselage.

Report dismissed

The Director dismissed reports that HAL might look at non Russian or even Western companies for collaboration on the MTA.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National